Deeper mattresses will have more fillings, offer greater comfort and be more expensive. Hand-stitched sides, found mainly on handmade beds, extend the sleeping area to the edge. Not all mattresses need to be turned over, but all should be rotated regularly so that the head end becomes the foot end.

Latex has a long-standing reputation as an excellent material for mattresses because it is resilient and recovers its shape quickly. Dunlopillo has always been the leading supplier of latex mattresses and these now blend natural with synthetic latex. A latex mattress doesn't need turning and is naturally anti-allergenic.

Loft beds are similar to the bunks mentioned above, but do not have a lower bed. This space is used instead for storage or as a play area. A captain's bed looks like a normal frame bed, but has storage drawers built into the base. This type is often referred to as a chest or cabin bed.